How To Make Your Coffee Habit Healthier

posted by Julie -

Feb 8, 2018

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A freshly brewed cup of coffee in the morning is one of life’s little pleasures, but some of us have a healthier caffeine habit than others. If your morning cup is some crazy concoction full of syrups and sweeteners, your coffee routine might need a makeover.

Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver cancer, cirrhosis, gallstones, and Parkinson’s disease, according to the Harvard School of Public Health,so you don’t want to give up your daily pick-me-up. But if you coffee habit could be healthier, registered dietitian Abigail Kinnear says this is how you do it.

Drink the right amount- It’s easy to overdo it if you’re tired or trying to power through work, but that’s not good for you. So Kinnear advises following the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelinesfor coffee consumption, which allows for three to five cups a day.

Cut back on added sugar - Stop adding all those empty calories to your coffee and try natural sweeteners like cinnamon and milk.

Check your portion size- Those guidelines suggest three to five cups of coffee is okay, but the size of the cups is important. Kinnear suggests checking the capacity of your mug to make sure you’re not getting too much buzzy brew.

Use real milk - Sweetened, flavored creamers have a super long list of artificial ingredients and added sugars, so you’re better off going with real milk instead. And if you don’t do dairy, nut milks like almond or coconut are healthy options, just read labels to know exactly what you’re drinking.